Castor: Fear, Emotion Alone Should Not Drive Decision-Making

Castor made her comments after a federal appeals court refused to lift a stay on President Donald Trump’s temporary ban on travelers from seven majority Muslim nations.

TAMPA – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, released the statement below after the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals’ unanimous ruling refusing to lift the stay on President Donald Trump’s recent executive order temporarily banning travelers from seven majority Muslim countries”

“The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that President Trump’s executive order targeting and banning legal permanent residents, Muslims, and refugees from war-torn areas is unlikely to stand. The court noted that it appears that the ban is not grounded in actual national security considerations, and demonstrates religious discrimination and serious due process problems. The court also batted down the President’s claim that the ban should not be reviewed: ‘There is no precedent to support this claimed unreviewability, which runs counter to the fundamental structure of our constitutional democracy‎.’

“America has learned difficult lessons in the past that fear and emotion alone should not drive policy. To do so is reckless and dangerous. Instead, facts and evidence should drive decision-making, consistent with the U.S. Constitution. America’s national security deserves no less.”